used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
deucenounUS /duːs/
a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
brought together in one place
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
immediately past
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/
broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
express in words
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
having a supporting base
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Say, Hugh, I'm in the deuce of a mess," he announced.
male cat
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading When at last I looked up I gathered from his expression that something serious had happened, so mournful was his face, and yet so utterly ludicrous.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One morning Tom was later than usual in getting home.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?"
at the time that
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
the act of creating written works
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
but in spite of that
From this reading I was writing a letter when he came in, and did not notice him, yet I was vaguely aware of his standing over me.
